Remove Thermal Grease?

[NVX_185]

Hi guys,
I recently got myself new hardware (around 5 days ago now... No time to build it yet! Too much school-work ) Anyway, I got myself an Arctic Silver 5 when I got my i5-750. Now I know this processor's heatsink comes pre-installed with some sort of thermal material on it. On looking at AS5's instructions on how to remove thermal material which was preapplied on heatsinks, it said to use things like 'high-purity isopropyl alcohol' (Wtf?) and ArcticClean which I don't have. Do I really need these things, or will just a lint-free cloth like lens glasses remove the thermal material?

 

[deanj20]

I would just use an old sock and rubbing alcohol ($1/bottle from Walgreens) - but then, I'm all hillbilly like that. Haven't fried one yet though...

 

[linkin]

Lint free cloth works just fine, I've done it about 5 or so times without arcticlean or rubbing alcohol and i have yet to see an increase in temperatures.

Just make sure you can get all the thermal gunk visible off.

 

[Aastii]

Hi guys,
I recently got myself new hardware (around 5 days ago now... No time to build it yet! Too much school-work ) Anyway, I got myself an Arctic Silver 5 when I got my i5-750. Now I know this processor's heatsink comes pre-installed with some sort of thermal material on it. On looking at AS5's instructions on how to remove thermal material which was preapplied on heatsinks, it said to use things like 'high-purity isopropyl alcohol' (Wtf?) and ArcticClean which I don't have. Do I really need these things, or will just a lint-free cloth like lens glasses remove the thermal material?

A lint free cloth will remove it fine, but every few times that you reaply the paste, maybe once every 4 or 5 times, use rubbing alcohol.

high-purity isopropyl alcohol is rubbing alcohol, but high percentage. You don't want the 70% stuff, you want much higher, high 90s atleast, beacuse it is 90+% alcholo, 10% distilled water. The less water the better because it evapourates faster and does a better job of removing the old thermal grease from the plate of the heatsink and processor.

When you are using the cloth though, remember to keep going even after it looks clean. Keep rubbing until the cloth stops having silver paste come off onto it

 

[NVX_185]

Right! So just lint-free cloth should be fine for this? (Haven't removed it from casing yet)

I noticed they're actually thermal pads... Should I use a credit-card's edge to remove it, then followed by lint-free cloth?

Also, I have a question about installing the processor, when I place the CPU into the LGA1156 socket, do I press down, or just place it on top of the CPU socket? This is my first build... Better to be safe than sorry

 

[bomberboysk]

A lint free cloth will remove it fine, but every few times that you reaply the paste, maybe once every 4 or 5 times, use rubbing alcohol.

high-purity isopropyl alcohol is rubbing alcohol, but high percentage. You don't want the 70% stuff, you want much higher, high 90s atleast, beacuse it is 90+% alcholo, 10% distilled water. The less water the better because it evapourates faster and does a better job of removing the old thermal grease from the plate of the heatsink and processor.

When you are using the cloth though, remember to keep going even after it looks clean. Keep rubbing until the cloth stops having silver paste come off onto it

a solvent should ALWAYS be used in conjunction with a lint free cloth when removing thermal interface material, otherwise most small particles will remain.

 

[Aastii]

a solvent should ALWAYS be used in conjunction with a lint free cloth when removing thermal interface material, otherwise most small particles will remain.

It should be but for a half degree at best? I'm happy to have my CPU run a couple degrees higher for a month and save on buying isopropyl and time. It is also hard to find it over here in the first place. Twice so far I have reaplied thermal paste on my CPU since I got it (January) and neither times have I used rubbing alcohol. My temps are sat at 15 idle with cool 'n' quiet on and 20 without it, and when overclocked (it isn't at the moment and won't be again until I notice it lagging behind games and what not) doesn't break 40 when stress testing, or 30 in real world usage. I am more than happy with those temps, and I haven't spent my money on alcohol or used it.

Once it builds up a little and the temps rise a few degrees, I will use it and clean it out, but I really do think it is one of those things that *should* be done (so say websites and computer users that do as they are told rather than experiment), but doesn't need to be done

nvx, when putting the heatsink on you will notice there are 4 holes in the motherboard, one on each corner, and they will line up with the pins on the cooler. the way you should do it is make sure the pins are twisted to the left (counter clockwise) and push them through the holes, then twist the pins clockwise to lock them down. It is easiest to do opposite corners first. Also, you will probably need to push down fairly hard to get the pins down properly, so make sure you support the back of the board when you do. You can also do it where you twist the pins to the right (clockwise) then push them through. They will fit fine and will click when they are in properly. I always did this when I had my stock intel cooler on my old system and found it alot easier, but I would try the "correct" way first

 

[bomberboysk]

It should be but for a half degree at best? I'm happy to have my CPU run a couple degrees higher for a month and save on buying isopropyl and time. It is also hard to find it over here in the first place. Twice so far I have reaplied thermal paste on my CPU since I got it (January) and neither times have I used rubbing alcohol. My temps are sat at 15 idle with cool 'n' quiet on and 20 without it, and when overclocked (it isn't at the moment and won't be again until I notice it lagging behind games and what not) doesn't break 40 when stress testing, or 30 in real world usage. I am more than happy with those temps, and I haven't spent my money on alcohol or used it.

Once it builds up a little and the temps rise a few degrees, I will use it and clean it out, but I really do think it is one of those things that *should* be done (so say websites and computer users that do as they are told rather than experiment), but doesn't need to be done

nvx, when putting the heatsink on you will notice there are 4 holes in the motherboard, one on each corner, and they will line up with the pins on the cooler. the way you should do it is make sure the pins are twisted to the left (counter clockwise) and push them through the holes, then twist the pins clockwise to lock them down. It is easiest to do opposite corners first. Also, you will probably need to push down fairly hard to get the pins down properly, so make sure you support the back of the board when you do. You can also do it where you twist the pins to the right (clockwise) then push them through. They will fit fine and will click when they are in properly. I always did this when I had my stock intel cooler on my old system and found it alot easier, but I would try the "correct" way first

The temperature differential will be far more than half a degree, especially when the intel processors run as warm as they do.
There are reasons that specialized thermal interface material removing products such as articlean exist, as they work far better than simple rubbing alcohol. Why would a company go through trouble of formulating a product that is "unnecessary"? Because the old thermal interface material will be disturbed if you just use a cloth, and even surface TIM will not be all removed with a cloth(let alone anything in the microscopic valleys and ridges of the processor). Excess thermal interface material will act as an insulator, and temperatures can alter from little to large temperature variations depending on many factors, but most especially the fact that if you replace the stock thermal grease with something much better, the effect will be vastly limited as you still have most of the old paste on there. (Thermal interface material is not at all about the part you can see, the part you cannot see is the more important side of thermal interface materials). Many heatsink manufacturers a few years back would take some arctic silver 5 and buff it into the base of their heatsinks back when artic silver 5 was basically on top as far as performance, as it would make their cooler appear to perform better.

A bottle of 91% isopropyl(rubbing alcohol) is less than $2 at walmart and will last you a long time.

 

[Aastii]

The temperature differential will be far more than half a degree, especially when the intel processors run as warm as they do.
There are reasons that specialized thermal interface material removing products such as articlean exist, as they work far better than simple rubbing alcohol. Why would a company go through trouble of formulating a product that is "unnecessary"? Because the old thermal interface material will be disturbed if you just use a cloth, and even surface TIM will not be all removed with a cloth(let alone anything in the microscopic valleys and ridges of the processor). Excess thermal interface material will act as an insulator, and temperatures can alter from little to large temperature variations depending on many factors, but most especially the fact that if you replace the stock thermal grease with something much better, the effect will be vastly limited as you still have most of the old paste on there. (Thermal interface material is not at all about the part you can see, the part you cannot see is the more important side of thermal interface materials). Many heatsink manufacturers a few years back would take some arctic silver 5 and buff it into the base of their heatsinks back when artic silver 5 was basically on top as far as performance, as it would make their cooler appear to perform better.

A bottle of 91% isopropyl(rubbing alcohol) is less than $2 at walmart and will last you a long time.

I know the reasonings for having it, I understand its uses, and I agree in this situation, remove the TIM using a solvent would be better because it is a change of TIM, but is unecessary to use every time.

Why do companies make anti-static wristbands when touching the bare metal of the case works just as well? Why are sugar free drinks allowed to be sold making out they are better when they contain aspartame? Because people will buy it. You say to someone you need this, they will get it, companies will make more money. It does work, yea, but isn't needed every time. Shampoo works the first time, but the bottles insists do it a second time for good measure. It uses it up faster, you buy more

 

[bomberboysk]

I know the reasonings for having it, I understand its uses, and I agree in this situation, remove the TIM using a solvent would be better because it is a change of TIM, but is unecessary to use every time.

Why do companies make anti-static wristbands when touching the bare metal of the case works just as well? Why are sugar free drinks allowed to be sold making out they are better when they contain aspartame? Because people will buy it. You say to someone you need this, they will get it, companies will make more money. It does work, yea, but isn't needed every time. Shampoo works the first time, but the bottles insists do it a second time for good measure. It uses it up faster, you buy more

Technically, it doesnt work as well, as the simple act of breathing or moving will create static electricity. Yes, it will eliminate most static electricity by touching the bare metal, but a wristband is a far more proper method, and one that should be followed when plausible to do so.

I know for a fact what i'm talking about when it comes to thermal interface materials, and have personally spoken to some of the guys over at arctic silver via the phone. Arctic silver designed articlean to do what most other solvents wont(at a consumer level anyhow), to provide the optimal thermal interface surface conditions. Even in simple testing between isopropyl and articlean, i have seen up to a 2 degree celsius improvement when using articlean, let alone the difference between using no solvent whatsoever. Something as simple as the oils from your hands can interfere with thermal transfer, let alone silicone based products that have degraded due to repeated heat cycles such as those on a processor.

 

[Turbo10]

Before ive used medicinal alcohol on a piece of tissue to clean the CPU heatsink and the CPU itself. Worked like a charm didnt affect the computer, didnt damage it and it dries instantly id highly recommend it

 

[Aastii]

Technically, it doesnt work as well, as the simple act of breathing or moving will create static electricity. Yes, it will eliminate most static electricity by touching the bare metal, but a wristband is a far more proper method, and one that should be followed when plausible to do so.

I know for a fact what i'm talking about when it comes to thermal interface materials, and have personally spoken to some of the guys over at arctic silver via the phone. Arctic silver designed articlean to do what most other solvents wont(at a consumer level anyhow), to provide the optimal thermal interface surface conditions. Even in simple testing between isopropyl and articlean, i have seen up to a 2 degree celsius improvement when using articlean, let alone the difference between using no solvent whatsoever. Something as simple as the oils from your hands can interfere with thermal transfer, let alone silicone based products that have degraded due to repeated heat cycles such as those on a processor.

I don't for one second dispute that you know what you are talking about, I can verify what you are saying is corrent myself because I understand how it works, and I also don't dispute the fact that using alcohol or cleaning fluid every time will help temps, but what I am saying is for most people, myself included, I am happy to put up with being a few degrees higher and not spending so much time with my computer. I enjoy working on my computer, but I prefer USING it more, and that cuts into the using time. If it was detremental to the way that my system runs and totally necessary ofcourse I would use it every time, but for the sake of a few degrees, no thanks.

Before ive used medicinal alcohol on a piece of tissue to clean the CPU heatsink and the CPU itself. Worked like a charm didnt affect the computer, didnt damage it and it dries instantly id highly recommend it

That is actually one hell of an idea, my mum works in a hosptital so *maybe* she can nick some (works in the equipment pool too so can get to it)

 

[Turbo10]

That is actually one hell of an idea, my mum works in a hosptital so *maybe* she can nick some (works in the equipment pool too so can get to it)

haha you can buy it in boots or something its cheap i think its called 'surgical spirit' in shops

 

[Jamin43]

I use a clean white T-shirt with the alcohol to remove thermal paste

When you stop discoloring the T-shirt with old thermal paste - you've got the old stuff removed.

 

[bomberboysk]

I don't for one second dispute that you know what you are talking about, I can verify what you are saying is corrent myself because I understand how it works, and I also don't dispute the fact that using alcohol or cleaning fluid every time will help temps, but what I am saying is for most people, myself included, I am happy to put up with being a few degrees higher and not spending so much time with my computer. I enjoy working on my computer, but I prefer USING it more, and that cuts into the using time. If it was detremental to the way that my system runs and totally necessary ofcourse I would use it every time, but for the sake of a few degrees, no thanks.



That is actually one hell of an idea, my mum works in a hosptital so *maybe* she can nick some (works in the equipment pool too so can get to it)

Rubbing alcohol adds at most 5 minutes. In fact, since it is a solvent it will actually decrease the time... Also, surgical spirit= 91% rubbing alcohol.

 

[Turbo10]

Rubbing alcohol adds at most 5 minutes. In fact, since it is a solvent it will actually decrease the time... Also, surgical spirit= 91% rubbing alcohol.

true, you can't get 100% alcohol legally i don't think, but surgical spirit did the job for me

 

[bomberboysk]

true, you can't get 100% alcohol legally i don't think, but surgical spirit did the job for me

100% alcohol is not illegal,as it is isopropyl, not ethyl(isopropyl will kill you or do gastrointestinal damage, while ethyl gets you drunk), its just highly expensive to manufacture(as anything above ~95% or so is not able to be distilled, and other processes must be used).

 

[Aastii]

haha you can buy it in boots or something its cheap i think its called 'surgical spirit' in shops

not here it isn't, went on a 2 hour crawl looking for the bloody stuff with my sister a couple months back, it is nowhere, not in any of the 3 boots near us, any of the pharmacies, no supermarkets, they just don't have it

 

[Turbo10]

not here it isn't, went on a 2 hour crawl looking for the bloody stuff with my sister a couple months back, it is nowhere, not in any of the 3 boots near us, any of the pharmacies, no supermarkets, they just don't have it

strange cause mines from boots, you tried asking at the pharmacy there? or try B&Q or homebase they might sell it there

 

[Aastii]

strange cause mines from boots, you tried asking at the pharmacy there? or try B&Q or homebase they might sell it there

I asked at the pharmacy there yep, at all of them, and they said they used to stock isopropyl alcohol products a couple years ago but don't any more.

I asked at one and he said you mean for cleaning and sterilising? I said no, for removing thermal grease. He looked a little confused to say the least

I think this could potentially be known as threadjacking now though, so enough with my stories about boots and rubbing alcohol